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Cards mulling options for Wednesday starter

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By Jenifer Langosch
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals do not expect to name a starter for Wednesday's game against the D-backs until Tuesday, as the club wants to delay any decision until it sees how much use the bullpen gets until then.

With the pitching depth in Triple-A Memphis already depleted and the Cardinals not too keen on pitching Adam Wainwright on three days' of rest, the preferred scenario would be to have several relievers sitep in to cover the game. That would become a more difficult proposition if the club were to need to rely heavily on its bullpen over the next few days.

"We're open to a lot of different things," manager Mike Matheny said on Sunday. "We've got some different things to sort through, depending on how the next few days go."

With Shelby Miller and Wainwright both pitching during Saturday's doubleheader, the Cardinals have the flexibility to start either on normal rest Thursday. The other would go on Friday. Matheny said the Cardinals are likely to keep the rotation order as is, meaning Miller would draw the assignment against the D-backs on Thursday and Wainwright would take the mound in a critical division-series opener on Friday.